SHARE

Fatal stabbing victim faced previous threat

A man who died Tuesday a week after being stabbed was threatened by another man with a knife in early January.

Douglas Bennett, 32, died days after he was released from St. Mary’s Hospital after being treated for a stab wound to his chest. Forensic pathologists are performing additional tests to determine why he died, according to the Mesa County Coroner’s Office.

Mack Sadler, 58, is scheduled to be formally charged today in the stabbing of Bennett, who was wounded with a pocketknife after the two shared a courtesy ride home Jan. 29 from DJ’s Roadhouse, a bar at 3112 Interstate 70 Business Loop, authorities said.

Bennett died at his home Tuesday.

According to an arrest affidavit, Bennett called police the night of Jan. 7 to report that he had been harassed by another man who showed up at the front door of his home at 2961 D Road.

Bennett was surprised when his wife answered the door at about 7:30 p.m. to find Bennett’s friend Sequoyah W. Scout, 28, had come to pay a visit. Bennett said he hadn’t seen Scout in about a year, and Scout was intoxicated, the affidavit said.

After joking around, Scout became confrontational and threatened Bennett with a knife, until Bennett twisted Scout’s arm around his back, which caused Scout to drop the knife. They calmed down, sat down on a couch to watch television and tuned to the local news, which showed a stabbing.

Bennett said he jokingly asked Scout whether he had been involved in the stabbing, and “Bennett stated Scout started acting nervous,” the affidavit said.

Bennett became uncomfortable with Scout’s response and asked him to leave. They argued, Bennett forced Scout to leave and then called police, the affidavit said.

Grand Junction police officers found Scout in the area, and Scout told officers he had just awakened after passing out from being drunk. Scout said he was heading toward the home of a friend, Doug Bennett, to hang out, the affidavit said.

Police arrested Scout, who has been charged with menacing and trespassing. He was in Mesa County Jail on Wednesday on $2,000 bond.